Boomerang!

1947
Approved
1h 28m

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

5.1K

YOUR RATING

The true story of a prosecutor's fight to prove the innocence of a man accused of a notorious murder.

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Cop Drama Docudrama Film Noir Legal Drama Political Drama True Crime Crime Drama Romance

The true story of a prosecutor's fight to prove the innocence of a man accused of a notorious murder.The true story of a prosecutor's fight to prove the innocence of a man accused of a notorious murder.The true story of a prosecutor's fight to prove the innocence of a man accused of a notorious murder.

Director
- Elia Kazan
Writers
- Richard Murphy
- Fulton Oursler
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

5.1K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Elia Kazan
Writers
- Richard Murphy
- Fulton Oursler
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 3 wins & 2 nominations total

Detective
(uncredited)

Royal Beal

Johnson - Police Ballistics Expert
(uncredited)

Wyrley Birch

Father George A. Lambert
(uncredited)

Robin Bryant

Woman
(uncredited)

Helen Carew

Annie
(uncredited)

John Carmody

Thomas Callahan - Witness
(uncredited)

William Challee

Whitney - Harvey's Assistant
(uncredited)

Clay Clement

Judge Tate
(uncredited)

Director
- Elia Kazan
Writers
- Richard Murphy
- Fulton Oursler
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Some of the people appearing were local townspeople, not professional actors, which certainly added to the authentic look and feel of the film. Reputedly their legal agreements caused a problematic rights situation when attempts were made to release the film on home video in later years (although televised broadcasts were not seemingly a problem). The film was scheduled for a VHS release in the 1990s but was abruptly canceled just before its scheduled release date. It was released for a very brief time on DVD in 2006, which resulted in an almost immediate recall. It was finally released on DVD with no further problems in 2008.

Goofs
After the prosecutor declared his belief in the defendant's innocence the Judge requested his presence in chambers, This would not be allowed without the defendant's attorney also being present in an in camera proceeding. The Latin phrase 'In camera' is a legal term that means 'in private.'

Quotes
[Camera close-up on an open book]: The primary duty of a lawyer exercising the office of public prosecutor is not to convict, but to see that justice is done. -The Lawyers' Code of Ethics.

Crazy credits
Opening credits are listed in the form of pages of a book.

Connections
Featured in Doogie Howser, M.D.: Presumed Guilty (1991)

Soundtracks
America, the Beautiful
(uncredited)
Music by Samuel A. Ward
Played during the opening sequence and at the end

User reviews81

Review

Featured review

8/10

who killed the town priest?

'Boomerang!' is one of those thrillers based on real events, presenting a corrupt view of small town America, where politicians seek votes over justice, and might doesn't always equal right.

With a cast including Dana Andrews, Lee J Cobb, and Arthur Kennedy, the story unfolds when the local priest is shot dead in the street and a wandering hobo is arrested and then grilled for hours until he confesses. Politically he is groomed for conviction, but the DA (Andrews) wants to know more. Meanwhile, political officials seek to let the alleged killer off on account of his being someone who'd served his country.

Corruption is rife both in the courtroom and without, and the viewer is drawn into this complex web not really knowing what the truth is. An interesting twist at the end almost ties things up but leaves some questions still unanswered.

Good performances, tense construction of character and storyline and some fine black and white photography mark this out as a minor classic of its type.